Hydraulic drilling device



H. u. BAKER 1,973,197

HYDRAULIC DRILLING DEVICE Sept. 11, 1934.

Filed July 11,l 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l ff UU /04 /3 A/Oz /00 '6546 62[Nl/5N Toe: Haro/d (/.akef7 Y 01d M Sept. l1, 1934. H. U BAKER 1,973,197

HYDRAULIC DRILLING DEVICE Filed July 1:1, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mail@ f4Trae/wy Patented Sept. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My inventionrelates to reciprocating mechanism and relates especially to a devicefor drilling wells by what is known as the standard or cable system, inwhich the well is dug by reciproeating a tool. This system of drillingis extensively used for shallow wells such as water wells and is alsoemployed in the drilling of other wells.

Since I find my invention especially adapted. to the drilling of shallowwells, it may be disclosed in its simple form as comprising a portabledrilling rig especially suited for drilling water wells. Such portablewell drilling rigs include a wheeled vehicle and a boom or derrickmember adapted to be supported on the vehicle in a reclining positionduring the transportation of the vehicle, and having supports or bracesfor holding the derrick member in upright position on the drillinglocation. The upper end of the derrick member carries sheave or pulleymeans over which a cable may be run, and the portable drilling device isordinarily equipped with a walking beam for reciprocating the cabletools in the hole. My present invention simplifles the portable drillingdevice so as to reduce the cost and weight thereof, and also provides asimple mechanism for reciprocating the cable tools in a very eicientmanner, this reciprocating mechanism being under a wider range ofcontrol than is found where a Walking beam is employed to reciprocatethe tools.

In my simple form of portable drilling rig I provide a boom or derrickmember of tubular form, for which a length of pipe may be cmployed,thereby avoiding the expense of fabricating the ordinary type of derrickmember. At the upper end of the pipe a cylinder is formed which receivesa piston adapted to carry a sheave member over which the drilling cableis carried. A feature of the invention is that the reciprocation of thedrilling cable is accomplished by hydraulically reciprocating the sheavemember in vertical direction, this being accomment of the drilling cableand an exceptional ease of control of the drilling movement and thefeeding of the drilling cable as penetration of the drilling toolsprogresses.

A further featureof the invention is that I provide means for cushioningand controlling the reciprocatory movement of the body of fluid employedin the hydraulic actuation of the device, thereby making it possible forthe driller to easily obtain a drilling movement most' eicient for theconditions under which he :is operating.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evidentthroughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, partly sectioned side view taken from theposition indicated by the vline 2 2 0f Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken from theposition of the arrow 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view on a planerepresented by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig.3.

As shown in the drawings, my invention includes a base 11 preferably inthe form of a vehicle having wheels 12 and 13 whereby it may betransported. This movable base 11 is provided With upstanding posts 14at its forward end which are suitably reinforced by brackets 15.Swingably secured to the base 11 is a derrick member or boom consistingof a. pipe 16 having a cross arm .l'lfnear the lower end thereof, theends of which cross arm are received in bearing boxes 18 situated nearthe upper ends of the Aposts 14. Near the rearward end of the support1l. are posts 20 carrying a cross member 21 on lli which the pipe 16 mayrest when it is in reclining position employed during transportation ofthe drilling device. At the lower extremity of the pipe 16 an eye 23 isplaced to which a block and tackle may be attached for the purpose ofswinging the pipe 16 from its horizontal position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1 to the upright position shown in full lines. When the pipe 16is in upright position, it slopes forwardly so that the upper endthereof is in a vertical plane slightly outside the end of the base 11,land the pipe 16 is supported in this raised position by means of cables24 which extend diagonally in the manner shown in Fig. 1 from the upperend of the pipe 16 to the leftward or rearward end of the base 11. Thesecables 24 replace the comparatively expensive supporting braces nowemployed in portable drilling rigs to support the boom or derrickmember, and are much lighter than such previously used members. When thepipe 16 is swung into upright position, the lower extremity 25 thereofengages a wedge 26 mounted on a cross member 27 at the forward end ofthe base 11, as shown in Fig. 5. A bolt 28 which passes through thewedge and a. plate 30 is employed to move the wedge 26 rightwardly oroutwardly so as to bear forcibly against the lower extremity 25 of thepipe 16. Before the drilling operation is started, the forward end ofthe base 1l is blocked up by use of blocking members 31, as shownin Fig.1.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper end of the pipe 16 is providedwith a cylinder 32 adapted to receive a piston 33. The cylinder 32 maybe formed by inserting a metal liner in the upper end of the pine 16 orby boring out the end of the pipe to give a smooth cylindrical surfacein which the piston 33 may reciprocate. This piston 33 may be providedat its lower end with suitable sealing members such as piston rings 34,or the sealing of the piston may be accomplished solely by a stuillngbox 35. The upper projecting portion 36 of the piston 33 may be providedwith forks 37 carrying bearings 38 at their upper ends to receive theshaft 40 of a sheave" member 41, the upper portion of which sheavemember 41 is protected by a guard 42 for preventing a cable member 43from leaving the groove 44 of the sheave member.

The lower end of the pipe 16 is closed, and connecting thereinto is anipple 45 to which a conduit member 46 may be attached by a couplingmeans 47 when the pipe 16 is in upright position. 'I'he conduit or pipe46 is connected to the lower` end of a cylinder 48, preferably supportedin vertical position by lateral members 50 forming part of the base 11.A piston 51 is adapted to be recprocated in the cylinder 48 by means ofa connecting rod 52, the upper end of which connects to a crank pin 53carried by a crank member 54 which may have several holes, such asindicated at 55, to receive the crank pin 53 at diiferent radialdistances from the axis of a shaft 56 which carries the crank member 54.Mounted on one side of the base 11 are containers or chambers 57 and 58,the lower ends of which connect with the conduit 46 through pipes 60 and61 having individual control valves 62 and 63 therein.

Power means for the operation of the drilling device may be in the formof a gasoline engine 65 which may be conveniently mounted at therearward end of the base 11 and may drive a jack shaft V66 throughsuitable means auch as a chain 67. As best shown in Fig. 4, the shaft 56is provided with a gear 68 adapted to be driven by a pinion 70 mountedon a shaft 71 which carries a sprocket 72 adapted to be driven from asprocket 73 on the shaft 66 by means of a chain 74. A standard form ofclutch such as diagrammatically indicated at75 is provided for drivablyconnecting the sprocket 72 to the shaft 71 whereby to drive the shaft 56and consequently reciprocate the piston 51. The base 11 carries a drum76 for winding the inner end of the cable member 43, this drum beingwound on a shaft 77 and having a brake band 78 for controlling therotation thereof. On one end of the shaft 77 a gear 80 is mountedadapted to be driven by a pinion 81 mounted on a shaft 82 which carriesa sprocket 83 and a clutch 84. 'I'he sprocket 83 is connected through achain 85 with a sprocket 86 mounted on the shaft 66. In the practice ol'my invention it is also desirable to provide a sand reel 87 for windinga sand line 88, this sand reel being provided with a brake band 90 andbeing mounted on a shaft 91 adapted to be driven through a sprocket 92and a clutch 93, the sprocket 92 being connected with a sprocket 94 onthe jack shaft 66 through a chain 95. Sand line sheaves 96 may bemounted at the upper end of the pipe 16 by use of a bracket 97 in themanner shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The operation of the invention is essentially as follows: 0n arriving atthe drilling location, the rig is set up and the various parts thereofconnected as shown in Fig. 1. With the valves 62 and 63 open and by useof an inlet member 100 having avalve 102 therein, the interior spaceformed by the pipe 16, the conduit 46, and

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the cylinder 48 is illled with a huid, preferably water. Reciprocationof the piston 51 by use of the power driven mechanism previouslydescribed causes the water to be reciprocated through the pipe 46 andwithin the pipe 16, this reciprocation being transmitted to the piston33 which reciprocates substantially vertically, and likewise produces areciprocation of the outer portion 103 of the cable member 43 havingtools at its lower end within a well 104 in the process of drilling.'Ihe reciprocation of the cable portion 103 is through a distance equalto twice the vertical movement of the piston 33. 'I'he drilling motionof the tools accomplished by use of the apparatus disclosed is of a veryresilient character, for it is found that in the use of the device thepiston 33 and the sheave 41 tend to move downwardly faster than the loopof the cable drops so that during the downward movement of the sheave 41the inner side 107 of the cable member 43 is not stretched taut. Whenthe piston reaches the lower end of its downward movement, the cableloop extending over the sheave catches up with the downward movement ofthe sheave and brings the downward movement of the cable to an abruptstop so that a tension is placed in the cable as the drilling tools moveinto engagement with the bottom of the hole being drilled.

During the drilling action the valves 62 and 63 communicating with thecushioned chambers 57 and 58 may be closed, or, as conditions mayrequire, one or more of these valves may be opened to a desired extent,thus permitting water from the conduit 46 to reciprocate back and forthagainst bodies of air or gas in the upper portions of the chamber 57 and58. I'he chambers 57 and 58 accordingly may be employed to cushion thereciprocation of the actuating iluid in the pipe 16 and also to reducethe length o! the stroke of the piston 33. The stroke ot the piston 33may be also varied by changing the length of stroke of the piston 51 bymoving the crank pin 53 to another hole 55 in the crank member 54. f

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple andpractical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereofare representative oi.' other parts, elements, or mechanisms which maybe used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially thesame results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention isnot to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accordedthe full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A device of the character described, including: a base structure; apipe secured to said base structure in upright position; cylinderpistonmeans at the upper end of said pipe and connected to said pipe; a sheavemember connected to said cylinder-piston means'so as to be verticallyreciprocated thereby; a cable member extending over said sheave member;means for reciprocating a body of fluid illling said pipe whereby toreciprocate said cylinder-piston means and consequently said sheavemember and said cable member; and cushion means connected with said pipefor cushioning the reciprocating movement of said fluid.

2. A device of the character described, including: a base structure; apipe secured to said base structure in upright position; cylinder-pistonmeans at the upper end of said pipe and connected to said pipe; a sheavemember connected to said cylinder-piston means so as to be verticallyreciprocated thereby; a cable member extending over said sheave member;and means for reciprocating a body oi' iluid iilling said pipe wherebyto reciprocate said cylinder-piston means and consequently said sheavemember and said cable member.

3. A device of the character described, including: a base structure; apipe secured to said base structure in upright position; cylinderpistonmeans at the upper end of said pipe and connected to said pipe; a sheavemember connected to said cylinder-piston means so as to be verticallyreciprocated thereby; a cable member extending over said sheave member;means for reciprocating a body of iiuid filling said pipe whereby toreciprocate said cylinder-piston means and consequently said sheavemember and said cable member; and cushion means connected with said pipefor cushioning the reciprocating movement of said iiuid, said cushionmeans comprising a substantially closed chamber having a iluid inlet inthe lower part thereof and being adapted to contain a body of gas in theupper part thereof.

4. A device of the character described, including: a base structure; apipe secured to said base structure in upright position; cylinder-pistonmeans at the upper end of said pipe and connected to said pipe; a sheavemember connected to said cylinder-piston means so as to be verticallyreciprocated thereby; a cable member extending over said sheave member;means for reciprocating a body of iiuid iilling said pipe whereby toreciprocate said cylinder-piston means and consequently said sheavemember and said cable member; and cushion means connected with said pipefor cushioning the reciprocating movement of said duid, said cushionmeansk comprising a plurality of closed chambers connected at theirlower ends to said pipe, there being control valves disposed betweensaid chambers and said pipe for selectively controlling the ilow offluid between said pipe and said chambers.

5. A device of the character described, including: a base structurehaving a support thereon; cylinder-piston means carried by said support;a sheave member connected to said cylinder-piston means so as to bereciprocated by the expansion and contraction of said cylinder-pistonmeans; a cable member extended over said sheave member, one end of saidcable member being held stationary and the other end of said cablemember reciprocating in response to the reciprocation of said sheavenember; a cylinder; conduit means connecting said cylinder to saidcylinder-piston means; a piston in said cylinder; means forreciprocating said piston whereby to intermittently charge and dischargesaid cylinder-piston means with a fluid in timed relation to themovement of said piston to produce reciprocation of said sheave member;and cushion means connected to said cylinder-piston means and beingadjustable during the operation of the device, for cushioning themovement of said uid.

6. A device of the character described, including: a portable basestructure; a pipe secured to said base structure pivotally so that itmay be swung from horizontal position to upright position;cylinder-piston means at the upper end of said pipe and connected tosaid pipe; a sheave member connected to said cylinder-piston means so asto be vertically reciprocated thereby; a cable member extending oversaid sheave member; an expansile-contractile chamber member connected tothe -lower end of said pipe, there being a body of liquid filling saidpipe, said cylinder-piston means, and said expansile-contractile chambermember; and means for actuating said expansile-contractile chambermember whereby to reciprocate said cylinder-piston means andconsequently said sheave member and said cable member.

7. A device of the character described, including: a portable basestructure; a pipe secured to said base structure pivotally so that itmay be swung from horizontal position to upright position;cylinder-piston means at the upper end of said pipe and connected tosaid pipe; a sheave member connected to said cylinder-piston means so asto be vertically reciprocated thereby; a cable member extending oversaid sheave member; an expansile-contractile chamber member mounted onsaid base structure; pipe means for connecting saidexpansile-contractile chamber member to the lower end of said pipe whenit is in upright position, there being a body of liquid filling saidpipe, said cylinder-piston means, and said expansile-contractile chambermember; and means for actuating said expansile-contractile chambermember whereby to reciprocate said cylinder-piston means andconsequently said sheave membe and said cable member.

8. A device of the character described, including: a portable basestructure; a pipe secured to said base structure in upright position,there being a cylinder formed within the upper end of said pipe; apiston operative in said cylinder; a sheave member connected to theupper end of said piston so as .to be vertically reciprocated therebywhen said pipe is in upright po sition; a cable member extending oversaid sheave member; and means for reciprocating a body of uid lling saidpipe whereby to' recip- 5 rocate said piston and consequently saidsheave member and said cable member.

9. A device of the character described, including: a portable basestructure; a pipe secured to said base structure pivotally so that itmay l be swung from horizontal position to upright position, there beinga cylinder formed ywithin the upper end of said pipe; a piston operativein said cylinder; a sheave member connected to the upper end oi' saidpiston so as to be vertically l reciprocated thereby when said pipe isin upright position; a cable member extending over said sheave member;an expansile-contractile chamber member connected to the lower end oisaid pipe, there being a body of liquid filling said pipe, said piston,and. said expansile-contractile chamber member; and means for actuatingsaid expansile-contractile chamber member whereby to reciprocate saidpiston and consequently said sheave member and said cable member.

1o. A device of the character described, including; a portable basestructure; a pipe secured to said base structure pivotally so that itmay be swung from horizontal position to upright position. there being acylinder formed within the upper end of said pipe; a piston operative insaid cylinder; a sheave member connected to the upper end of said pistonso as to HAROLD U. BAKER.

